A disturbing video played in an Alberta courtroom on Tuesday captured the moment a woman was attacked by two large dogs in a southwest Edmonton backyard. The footage, taken from a neighbour’s security camera in February 2024, shows an icy yard where two Cane Corsos, each weighing over 100 pounds, were playing with a woman accompanied by Raymond Grumbach.
The woman and Grumbach, along with another friend, had stopped by the home of Crystal Jean MacDonald, who was not present but had granted them permission to enter. The female friend had brought dog treats for the two canines. However, the video shows the woman slipping on the ice, triggering an aggressive response from the dogs.
“Oh my god, no!” she is heard screaming in the footage. “They’re biting me!” The woman was later taken to hospital with multiple bite wounds and significant blood loss.
Context of the Case
This testimony came during the trial of MacDonald, who faces a criminal negligence charge related to the death of 11-year-old Kache Grist in April 2024. The boy was visiting from British Columbia and staying at the Edmonton home where MacDonald resided with his father. The dogs involved in both incidents have since been euthanized.
Crown prosecutor Andres Quist presented witnesses aiming to establish that the dogs had a history of violence. Grumbach testified that he sensed trouble when one dog stood over the woman, interpreting it as a sign of dominance. “I could only hold one animal,” he said, explaining his inability to fully stop the attack.
MacDonald arrived home as Grumbach was leaving to seek medical care for the woman. According to Grumbach, MacDonald was “very concerned” and asked to see the wounds, which included numerous bite marks and extensive bleeding.
Previous Dog Attack
Further evidence of the dogs’ aggressive tendencies came from Dale Shawn Hesse, who co-owns a pub where MacDonald worked. Hesse testified that his 10-pound Pomeranian was mauled by the two Cane Corsos in July 2023. The incident occurred at Hesse’s acreage, where MacDonald and her partner had parked a camping trailer.
Hesse stated he had been warned previously to keep his dog away from the Cane Corsos. Despite his Pomeranian being in a sealed enclosure, the small dog escaped and ran into the path of the leashed Cane Corsos. “They picked him up and made short work of him,” Hesse testified, wiping tears from his eyes. He described the attack as a “tug of war with a dog.”
Hesse also noted that the Cane Corsos were known to be dangerous from prior interactions. He recalled that if one was tied to a picnic table, it could drag the table unless someone sat on it to anchor the dog. “They’re very aggressive dogs, they bark at anything,” he testified.
The trial continues as the court weighs evidence of the dogs’ violent history and MacDonald’s responsibility in the fatal attack on Kache Grist.
